Bakare A A, Uchendu O C, Omotayo O E, King C
Department of Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria.
Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria.
Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2023 Jun;21(1):50-62.
Existing literature suggests inequalities in nutritional and feeding practices for children in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts. However, with increasing urbanization and changing social norms, re-assessment of rural-urban differences in feeding practices for under-five children is essential. This study therefore aimed to assess the feeding practices and nutritional status of children in a peri-urban setting in Ibadan.
We conducted a community-based cross-sectional comparative study in peri-urban LGA (Lagelu) in Ibadan. Participants were 617 caregivers of underfive children identified, from wards typical of rural and urban settings, through a multistage sampling technique. Caregivers' sociodemographic details, 24-hour dietary recall of the child's feeding, and anthropometric measurements were obtained.
Nearly half of the children were 2 years or older (rural: n=142, 47.2%; urban: n=147, 46.2%). There was significant difference between settings in terms of maternal age and education, father's education, caregiver's occupation and socioeconomic status. In total, 611 children (99.0%) were breastfed. Of those breastfed, 45% and 39% in rural and urban settings respectively were initiated within an hour of delivery. Children in rural setting had longer duration of breast feeding. However, they are less likely to be exclusively breast fed for 6 - months compared with children whose caregivers are urban dwellers. Dietary diversity was similar in both settings but higher among males. (20.3% male, 11.7% female in rural; 17.3% male and 15.5% female in urban). Overall, 108 (22.3%), 107 (21.9%), 152 (30.6%) and 34 (7.0%) of children aged 6-59 months were cachetic, underweight, stunted, and overweight respectively but commoner among children in rural settings.
Feeding and nutrition programmes need to apply a gender lens if sustained behavioural interventions on child nutrition are to reach equitable outcomes.
现有文献表明，与城市儿童相比，农村社区儿童在营养和喂养方式上存在不平等现象。然而，随着城市化进程的加快和社会规范的变化，重新评估城乡五岁以下儿童喂养方式的差异至关重要。因此，本研究旨在评估伊巴丹城郊地区儿童的喂养方式和营养状况。
我们在伊巴丹城郊的拉杰卢地方政府辖区（LGA）进行了一项基于社区的横断面比较研究。通过多阶段抽样技术，从具有农村和城市典型特征的病房中确定了617名五岁以下儿童的照顾者作为参与者。获取了照顾者的社会人口学详细信息、儿童喂养的24小时饮食回顾以及人体测量数据。
近一半的儿童年龄在2岁及以上（农村：n = 142，47.2%；城市：n = 147，46.2%）。在母亲年龄和教育程度、父亲教育程度、照顾者职业和社会经济地位方面，不同地区存在显著差异。总共有611名儿童（99.0%）接受母乳喂养。在这些接受母乳喂养的儿童中，农村和城市地区分别有45%和39%在出生后一小时内开始母乳喂养。农村地区的儿童母乳喂养时间更长。然而，与城市居民照顾的儿童相比，他们在6个月内纯母乳喂养的可能性较小。两个地区的饮食多样性相似，但男性的饮食多样性更高（农村地区男性为20.3%，女性为11.7%；城市地区男性为17.3%，女性为15.5%）。总体而言，6至59个月大的儿童中，分别有108名（22.3%）、107名（21.9%）、152名（30.6%）和34名（7.0%）消瘦、体重不足、发育迟缓以及超重，但在农村地区儿童中更为常见。
如果要通过持续的儿童营养行为干预实现公平结果，喂养和营养计划需要考虑性别因素。
